An Evansville teenager was killed and two others were seriously injured when a car he was driving careened into a utility pole on North St. Joseph Avenue on Wednesday night, according to police.

Timothy E. Wharton, 17, was pronounced dead shortly after 7 p.m. at the scene, just north of Meier Road.

Two passengers, who Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department Lt. Rick Schnautz said were also males in their late teens, suffered what appeared to be serious but not life-threatening injuries and were taken to Deaconess Hospital by ambulance.

Schnautz said they are both from Evansville. Their names were not available late Wednesday.

Officials believe Wharton was traveling north at an excessive speed when he lost control and veered off the west side of the roadway and hit a metal utility pole, Schnautz said.

All three occupants were wearing seat belts, Schnautz said.

St. Joseph Avenue was closed for more than two hours as officials cleared the scene.